CONTROVERSY

Tarvaris Jackson & Sidney Rice To Play Till Halftime Against Vikings

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said that Jackson, along with the rest of the starters, will play at least a half against the Vikings after playing just two series against San Diego last week in the team’s first exhibition game.

“Last week was just, ‘Get them out there, and then get them out of there,’” Carroll said. “There just wasn’t enough time for any extended duty. But now we need to go for it, and we have to jump ahead. We have to catch up a little bit here.”

Jackson’s more than happy to oblige. And joining him out on the field will be the rest of Seattle’s playmakers. Receivers Sidney Rice, Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu, along with running back Justin Forsett, are all expected to play this weekend.

“That’s going to be big for us because we’re trying to get on the same page,” Jackson said. “We have a game in less than a month now, so we’re trying to get on the same page so that when Game One comes, we roll.”

Jackson said he’s looking forward to facing some of his former teammates on the defensive side of the ball for the first time since joining Seattle in free agency.

“It’s going to be just like practice,” Jackson joked about facing the Vikings. “I saw them a lot. I practiced against them for five years straight, and that was always fun because the guys always competed.

“I’m pretty sure guys are going to try and get a hit on me – especially guys on defense because I always had that red jersey on in practice. I’m going to be in a different color jersey, so I’m pretty sure they’ll try and get a couple licks on me.”

I think both sides are licking their chops to this pre-season game. Jackson and Rice will definitely have a chip on their shoulder and the Vikings will desperately try to prove that they made the right decision letting both players go this off season. I can’t wait to see Rice line up against Griffen and Winfield. Will Jackson be able to get the ball to Rice? Vikings history says no. Can Coach Carroll get the best out of Tarvaris Jackson? Without a productive Jackson, Rice has very little value to the Seattle Seahawks.